Appleby knew Muntahaa was up there but didnt really bother Hawkbill early and ended up getting a soft enough lead in a Group 2 for a Group 1 class animal.
They raced so wide apart it made little difference. Hawkbill won it well, pulled away as Frontiersman got there and did it hands and heels pretty much.
Did not see that coming at all with Hawkbill. Clearly a very talented horse but didn't think today would be the day. Spring Cosmos may be worth chancing in the next
I like Elusive Heights, in the 7.55 at Leopardstown, back in a handicap after finishing second in two listed races.
On the day she gets retired, her sister makes her debut in the next at Leapordstown currently 4/1 I'm on!
Shout on Spring Cosmos (sorry for the after timing) but was on him just had to based on the trainers record now 13/31 with 2yo
I suspect she's only out for a school. I think they have only had one or two newcomers win on debut this year. September is the only one I can think of off the top of my head. I've gone for Dream Malfunction in it.
The case for the defence is obviously that the Group 2 Princess Of Wales’s Stakes is not the “top level”... Strange how Hawkbill clearly stays a mile and a half (or further) when it is not a Group 1 race but does not stay when the race is a Group 1. It could not possibly have been the case that he simply did not handle the track at Epsom. Horses either stay or they do not. If a horse is allowed to dictate from the front, it still has to run the whole race distance to win.
I dont think its strange. Brigadier Gerard won the King George, did he stay, or did he get away with it against inferior horses? What is staying? Does Hawkbill stay well enough to win a Group 1 at a 1m4? I didnt think so before today and I still wouldnt think so. I did concede that he had a chance today with the pace set up and small field and that had the race been 2f shorter he would be nailed on as he was obviously the class horse in the race. But not many group 1s you get a lead like today with your only challenger running across the track. I think superior class won the race, rather than superior stamina.
Every horse will stay but some take longer than others, either by running relatively slowly and making it a sprint or by having to keep up with a fast pace and getting tired. Whatever the distance, something has to win the race. This is where taking the time into account can be useful. If a horse covers 12f in a fast time it is reasonably safe to conclude it will stay 12f at the top level. If a horse wins over 12f in a slow time it doesn't tell you much, unless the same horse has previously won over 12f in a fast time in which case it tells you how versatile it is.
